Abasdarhon's Castle

Few men could match Saito of the Hanazawa clan in strength and agility in his prime. It was said he could wrestle minotaurs bare-handed and, despite his great stature, was so nimble that even the short-statured ninja yielded to him both in speed and stealth. Respected people in Hain also knew and feared him, for the night warriors he led, though not numerous, unquestioningly followed the clan's will and skillfully hid under a peasant guise. At the same time, he was equally strict with himself and others, avoided excesses, and lived as tradition and a code of honor based on ancestral wisdom and his rich life experience dictated.

Saito was born the youngest son of the previous clan leader and was destined for a somewhat different role — it was assumed he would step into the shadows and become a reliable support for his elder brother. Jun not only stood higher in the line of succession but also brilliantly passed the coming-of-age ritual: without fear, doubt, and following all the rules of this ceremony. Saito, unlike him, greatly disappointed his father.
— Kill. — One moonlit night, his father led young Saito into the forest and presented him with the choice that all children of the main clan line went through: take the life of a loved one or face punishment for disobedience and die together. Before him now, on his knees, head bowed and hands tied, sat Akira, the son of a samurai living in the village and his close friend. — The clan's will is above all, Saito!
— I know, father, — contrary to the situation, Saito was absolutely calm, — Akira, lift your head. — When the young man raised his gaze, firmness and confidence were readable in his eyes. In response to this resolve, Saito cut the ropes on his friend's hands with the blade of his sword, pulled from his garments a second scabbard with a sword resting inside it, which he had secretly brought, and threw it at his victim's feet.
— Saito!! — His father was furious. — What are you thinking!?
His anger was understandable. After all, the details of the coming-of-age ritual were never revealed to those who had not yet undergone it, but Saito was too cunning and curious for that secret to be kept from him.
— The role of a shinobi is to kill, but even a shinobi must not forget honor and mercy, father. — He knelt down and pressed his forehead to the ground. — All I ask is to prove my loyalty to the clan through a duel, not an execution.
His father, of course, did not like his son's willfulness, but he did not refuse his request. Akira also courageously accepted the situation and agreed to the duel, understanding that even having suspicions about such a turn of events, Saito's code of honor would not allow him to warn his friend in advance and help him avoid a hopeless situation.
The fight lasted surprisingly long: they exchanged no words, only sword strikes, but that was enough to convey their emotions and feelings to each other. Akira, despite his young age, was a first-class warrior and more than once forced Saito to be a step away from death but, in the end, lost and parted with life as befits a warrior — in battle.
After his father's death, clan leadership was inherited by Jun, his elder brother. They were in a master-servant relationship; Saito faithfully followed his orders and never contradicted him, believing the clan's will was above all. The firmness of this iron rule, however, weakened over time and began to crack — his brother's eccentricity, his constant partying, and lack of dedication to work made Saito doubt Jun's ability to lead the clan further. Deciding that his brother's leadership would doom their entire lineage to extinction and subsequent oblivion, he began secretly organizing those who shared his opinion and, when he had gained sufficient support, presented the unworthy one with the choice: renounce his position or fight to the death for the right to lead. Not lacking in pride, Jun, of course, was in no hurry to part with his accustomed influence and privileges and first ordered his subordinates to eliminate the traitor but, to his surprise and horror, under the current circumstances this was no longer possible. Then he agreed to a duel and... Disgracefully lost it, leaving this world behind.
Having taken the reins of the clan, Saito soon married. His wife was a girl named Yui, the daughter of a wealthy merchant from a neighboring town. She was beautiful and very kind, which made her married life full of sadness. Nevertheless, despite her own emotions and the specifics of her husband's work, she did everything possible to be an ideal wife to him, as her duty demanded. For this Saito loved her, although he never admitted it, considering sentimental tenderness a sign of weakness and behavior unbecoming of a man. Her life ended with the birth of Hanzo, their youngest son, and after that he did not remarry.

After a deadly duel with Hanzo years later, Saito miraculously survived a wound that should have been fatal for him. Returning to his former life, however, was no longer possible — recovery was long and difficult. His faithful odachi, which he once wielded with ease, he could now not hold even with both hands. Not to mention his endurance and other combat parameters. Age also began to take its toll, and his mind no longer worked as quickly as before, so he had to leave the life under the moonlight and cede clan leadership to the younger generation. Saito was not averse to death, but he categorically refused to indulge in idleness or retire and therefore, having lost the ability to fight as before, began to seek new ways to occupy himself and over time found interest in things he had not cared about before: travel and women. Now he was no longer bound by duties and obligations and could afford to live high on the hog.

Saito was not sure whether his wayward youngest son was alive or not, but decided that even if he was, he had earned his freedom and he was not obliged to punish him for past transgressions.
Makoto is Saito's nephew from his younger sister. Energetic, impressionable, innocent, diligent, and loyal, Makoto always respected his uncle and wanted to be as strong and impressive as him. Following the path of the night warrior, however, he could not, as his mother was married to a man who, although he maintained close relations with the clan, was still not a member. Therefore, when Makoto was old enough, he set off for the republic intending to join the legion and gain combat experience. He did not stay there long, though. Returning, he called the republic a country of prostitutes and perverts and wished to have nothing more to do with it. He would probably have remained in Hain, but news of Saito's defeat and his serious condition changed everything. He helped the old man recover and when he decided to set out on his travels, very insistently offered his company; for him, this simultaneously satisfied both his sense of duty and the opportunity to be close to the hero of his youth.
Currently, Makoto serves not only as Saito's bodyguard but also as a mule for the belongings of their small squad; luckily, the guy is strong and won't strain his back from a heavy bag, on the contrary, as he says — extra training has never harmed anyone and only benefits him.
Throughout his long career as the head of a clan of assassins and spies, Saito maintained active relations with the Hain cell of Giriza, where he met Laphrenia. No one wanted to work with her due to her difficult personality, but Saito had no problems with her, and they often carried out joint missions of a combat or espionage nature. He liked working with her, and she respected him for his professionalism and wisdom, at some point starting to call him "grandpa," which he initially felt very coolly about, but upon meeting again after his recovery, it began to please him. Of course, the years had been harsher on him than on her — he was already gray-haired, while she still looked as she did on the day they met over ten years ago. Now she decided to keep the old man company for reasons known only to her.
Laphrenia is very shy and dislikes other people, preferring to spend time alone, and essentially Saito is the only one she trusts in this world. She has a serious complex about her physique and constantly quarrels with Makoto over their differing views.